Bright Points and Magnetic Islands

2009 ended in Melbourne and passed into 2010 in a blur of activity and laziness. Swimming in Port Philip Bay to cool down from the sweltering heat, New Years Eve spent chez la famille Suisse imbibing too much vin. Then in the new year, when temperatures dropped 15 degrees, a day out in Victoria market and down town Melbourne, and a breezy stroll along St Kilda esplanade. In between lots of games of Uno and Peanuthead.

Then at last Monday the 4th rolled round and it was time to surrender to the magnetic lure of Queensland. An afternoon flight to Townsville, a dash by taxi to catch the early evening ferry, and we made it to Magnetic Island by 8pm, where our courtesy car and luxury waterfront apartment awaited. Quick shop for dinner, bed and next morning straight into one of the four pools in the complex. And thus the next few days passed, a succession of late mornings followed by swimming and games in the pool, afternoon trips out to explore the island. The height of stinger season alas meant swimming in the sea and snorkelling were off the agenda without the hire of a full body stinger suit.

Extra-curricular activities included a trip to the koala sanctuary at Horseshoe Bay, where koalas were duly cuddled, cockatoos and baby crocodiles were kissed, and skinks, bearded dragons and pythons were worn as fashion accessories. A day's fun fishing was also had, with plenty of catches including colourful reef fish and remoras. Plus of course, the obligatory one that got away - the only fish worthy of being called dinner, which I incompetently failed to stun before dehooking, only to see it slip out of my hands to freedom off the side of the jetty, almost taking with it a treasured Ipod Touch. 

Excitement yesterday evening - the last fishing sortie of the day ended in minor drama when la cuñada slipped on the rocks and slid into the surging, stinger infested water. Moving with the speed of a hyperactive sloth, her beau-frère scrambled across the rocks and pulled her out, though not before the waves and barnacles had conspired to leaves some nasty scratches on various parts of the anatomy, the most painful somewhere around the derrière. Made sitting a little painful, but tasty fish dinner out that night was completed just in time, as the hot, humid weather broke in an almighty storm. The wind blew and the rain lashed down, and the next day was mostly spent lazing about indoors or swimming in the pool against the backdrop of waves crashing into the rocks below.

And then, finally the big day arrived. L'anniversaire de la nièce cadette, greeted in the morning with a birthday banner, balloons, a few presents and a bit of cash. The proposed birthday day out of horse-riding on the beach and in the sea was swapped for an iPod Touch (which seems likely to be swapped in turn for tailless mice, negotiations still in progress). So the day was spent cavorting in the pool, followed by a full tour of the island in a vehicle large enough for all seven, hired for the day. So we bumped, rumbled and splashed along the unsealed road to West Point beach, and took in most of the other accessible beaches on the island too. Tasty Tex-Mex dinner completed the first day in the 12th year of my little sweet sobrina.

The next day, alas (though a turtle was spotted grazing in the water beneath the apartment), it was time to break the magnetic pull of the island and head home to Melbourne, where it was a steaming 43C, though a mere 38C when we arrived at 11 in the evening. Fortunately, this afternoon the thermometer shows 26C outside as I write and still dropping...